During the weekdays my rise is a little early for my liking, I have become used to it and often awake just before my alarm becomes audible. This morning my alarm was set a little earlier and I hit stop instead of snooze. My body clock later ticked bang on time for a weekday, problem was I was due down at Batemans Bay at Craig’s house at 7am sharp.
Rushing around I left Canberra a little later than hoped, bound for the South Coast via Braidwood Bakery. Passing through Bungendore en route I noticed the outside mean temperature was a chilly – 3 degrees, never mind the traffic flow ( It was slim to nil ). After a strong, regular Flat white and a few Snail pastries I was set to negotiate descent.
Coastal predicted swell was minimal ( Around 1m ) and a top of 17 degrees was forecast. My destination was Depot Beach, a location few members have tread before but one that holds favourable memories for previous Canberra AKFF visitors ( Mr. Red Phoenix ). Craig 450, Squidder and Squidette had launched on time, I lurking about an hour behind.
I have fished Depot beach from the rocks but favour the beach north ( Pebbly Beach ). Craig has organised an excursion here in a few weeks time and we were all keen to see what structure lay below and if any of the fabled large Snapper were dominating the area. Arriving at the beach safely, I spied the trio 500m offshore and commenced rigging up.
I had been advised of a perfect launch spot in between two sets of rocks, a channel has been created over time, allowing for a simple departure ( Avoiding the sand monster ). On closer inspection it proved to have many pitfalls that were exposed at low tide, studying yak drag marks I concluded the others must have started from the main beach.
While the waves were quite small they tended to jack up and dump on the shoreline. Stretching and warming up before launch I noticed I had quite a large audience, a Sea Eagle and her offspring, a few very lazy Kangaroos and a couple of tourists. “I better do this correctly” I muttered as I picked my way through sets, emerging wet but unscathed.
The main technique we were focusing on today was the use of Soft Plastics on species like Snapper, Flathead and various reef species. It was a long paddle over to the closest member ( Turned out to be Craig ) so decided to troll a big imitation lucky Gold Bomber. On the way I managed a massive a hit, somehow knocking the TDA reel into free spool.
Greeting the others and apologising for my tardiness I was surprised to hear that it had been very quiet. Craig had managed a few ‘Rubbish fish’ ( His words mind you ) and Michelle and Jason were patiently plugging away. We were sitting off the point in around 17m of water, the bottom proved featureless but small strikes kept our awareness high.
Jason and I moved in closer to the wash, the low confused seas had the white wash flowing well enough and the reef structure appeared more frequently. I had a hankering for some rock Cod ( Tasty white flesh ) so tied on a hefty 160mm Technicolour Yawn Slick Rig, this large plastic usually works well for me but today failed to account.
I was getting slightly restless, looking around Jason and the others also appeared disconsolate. The first good strike I had managed today came on the troll so I retraced my path slowly, hugging as close to the rocks as I could. The big Gold Bomber imitation style lure maintained great depth and would regularly hit the bottom in 6.5m of water.
My first fish was an Elegant Wrasse/ Eastern Maori Wrasse, a typical species found on the South Coast but one that was unusual to be caught on the troll ( A few photos later it was released amid grunts ). Nearing the launch point I turned around and roughly followed the GPS breadcrumb back towards the others, passing Michelle as she headed in solo.
The Advantage combo started to scream as I passed the same location that I missed a fish earlier. At first I thought I had snagged the reef but when the line began to lose its rhythmical, dull pull I knew I was onto something really special. I couldn’t for the life of me pry the rod from the rear holder, luckily the reel allowed great, steady drag dispersion.
When I finally held the rod in my hands I felt raw power surging through the guides, in a matter of a minute I had less than half of my spooled braid remaining. Determined to regain line I tightened the drag slightly, unfortunately the Snapper had other ideas and showed me my mono backing… Whatever this fish was it was well hooked and cranky!
After a few minutes I had turned the fish and regained enough line to tighten the drag even more. Taking my time I would let the fish run deep and take line as she pleased, at this stage the headshaking commenced while the strong dives became less prevalent. Confidence in my gear took hold, this fish was mine but I still couldn’t see the species.
Colour started to appear next to the Quest, at first it appeared as silver flashes but at one stage turned on its side for one last beat of its tail. I started shaking and gagging, thanks to overuse of travel calm ( I had a serious case of cotton mouth ). The fish was beaten and came to the surface, grabbing the net I could only just manage to net its cranium!
Lifting the net with both hands I struggled to get the fish on board but with a little luck it remained motionless on the deck. I commenced screaming, first in extreme elation then secondly in complete shock. By this stage I noticed Jason and Craig steamrolling towards me, god knows what was going through their minds but one look of the tail said it all.
Needing help my soul saviour Jason moved alongside, the fish was so immense it became impossible to completely dispatch on deck. Loading the Snapper into the front hatch on the Quest we all decided that the photo opportunity would be better suited safe on shore. Jason was also worried if Michelle had successfully negotiated the wicked sand monster.
On the way in Craig mentioned he had caught a 45cm Snapper near the bombie but apart from out two Snapper the morning was a complete right off. Moving closer to shore we passed a large cuttlefish bobbing in the swell ( It had been decapitated ) so Jason scooped it up for use later… Little did we know the Depot sand fiend had other things in mind!
Packing lures away and securing deck items I studied the beach landing, Craig had moved ahead of Jason and was looking to land safely. At first he looked like he was home and hosed but eventually became twisted and was dumped hard when the front of his Revolution speared the shallow water ( Breaking a good Wilson rod and losing his car / house keys ).
The sets lulled and seasoned Squidder landed safely, after Craig’s mishap I think he was more worried about my landing than his own. Just to the left of the others the waves flattened out so while dropping off the back I paddled hell for leather. Jason was there to guide me in but he needn’t have worried, there was no way I was going to risk this fish.
Running over to Craig he assumed he had retrieved all his gear, to the naked eye it appeared so but later on after a glorifying photo shoot he realised his lip grips, braid scissors and car keys were in the shore break. We spent hours raking the sand as the tide came in, finding a few items but alas no keys ( I did get bitten by a nasty Crab though ).
Packing up everyone’s wet gear we ferried the kayaks back to Craig’s house and he started ringing Tow Truck Companies ( Craig reported later that the car was returned to his house via a tilt tray ). We all decided to miss the afternoons planned estuary session and head home, leaving Craig with a bruised ego and myself with humbling intentions.
I thank Craig, Jason and Michelle for all their preparation involved in this trip and apologise once again for my tardiness. I do however wish to thank my body clock, that infamous Braidwood Bakery and my Girlfriend Claire for the unquestioned leave pass ( Keep it up babe, the more leave passes you grant, the more food I will put on our Dining room table ).
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